The Lesson
A while back I liked a man who several of my friends thought was both the very definition of trouble and completely beneath me. Though they were only trying to look out for me and keep me from getting hurt, because of their constant meddling, it ended up not working out and I ended up feeling hurt anyway. I was rather frustrated at them when I wrote this poem.
The Lesson
For those of you who wished to protect me
Congratulate yourselves.
You've taught me once again to see
That life is naught but hell.
Never more will you have to preach
Of things you can't conceive of.
For now I see what you wished to teach -
There is no such thing as love.
If there no such hope to long for,
In the end foolish does it seem,
Something better kept in modern lore,
To lose your heart to but a dream.
If you take away the only emotion pure,
The thing that keeps me sane,
For in this you all seem so sure,
But what is left to me but pain?
Yet in something I should not desire,
The tears I shed are real,
And so through trial by fire,
I'll turn my heart to steel.
Never more to open up my heart,
Never more to let someone in,
Never more my secrets to impart,
I'll stop before I begin.
It really doesn't matter anyway,
No secrets will anyone need to keep,
I'll lock them all away
And bury them too deep.
And the next time you wish to tell me,
How my eyes look so haunted,
I'll ask you simply to let me be.
After all, I gave you what you wanted.
Oh, darling, be happy now that I agree,
Now that I understand it all.
As people we are like the sea -
We rise just to fall.
While you all tried to shelter me,
I still learned my lesson.
Now it's time for all you to see,
There is no such thing as protection.
Especially if you do away
With the potential to make it right.
For when you teach those who love fall prey,
You teach there is no point to life.
© 2007 Anna Kirstin